Welcome

[Sir Edward Benton]

It was now early evening, Hastings had just returned from dropping the slaves back to the merchants, and had waited till they finished a few tasks for the merchant, before being walked back to the market to be picked up by the estate overseer’s that had rented them out.
No one stood behind looking for Joanna, and when all the carts had left with the slaves in the back, Hastings waited another half an hour before being sure no one was there to collect the girl. Curious of that fact no one asked after the girl, he had asked the Merchant if he knew the girl with the paler colouring, or her owner, but the Merchant could offer nothing new.

Returning to the fort he had briefed the Captain on his findings, and had been ordered to arrange an evening meal for the Captain as Porter his man was busy, and also instructed to bring a neck collar, and ankle shackles to the Laundry.

In the laundry Captain Benton nodded to Porter who took the breeches from Joanna and showed the now cleaned material to the Captain, he scrutinized them thoroughly but could find nothing to pick at, ( and he really had wanted to find something!) With a curt nod, Porter took the pants through to the drying room and hung them ready for ironing tomorrow morning.

While Porter was gone Captain Benton just stared at Joanna, daring her to look at him, or do something that would give him a reason for punishment, the small hand whip still in his hand, only diverting his eyes from the discerning look when Hastings appeared and stood to attention holding the shackles he had been asked to bring.

‘ Place them on her. And attach a neck chain to the collar’

Without a moment’s hesitation Hastings stepped forward, knelt on one knee and began to place the ankle shackles around Joanne’s slim ankles, before standing and fastening the inch thick metal collar around her neck, attaching a chain to the collar and standing waiting for the next instruction.
‘I’ll take that’
Taking hold of the collar chain, Captain Benton gave it a pull, bringing Joanna a step closer to him, he now held like a bitch being walked on a lead, her ankles were chained so she would only be able to take smaller steps or fall if not careful.

‘I believe that Private Andrews is still within the punishment block. Let the sergeant know he is to be released to my custody and bring him to the Officers dining room, have him stand to attention at the end of the table, and I’ll be along shortly’

Hastings was curious on such an order but knew better than to ask, it was unheard of for one of the lower rankings to be allowed to an officers dinning room, let alone Andrews who was one of the worst type of soldiers at the fort. Andrews fought well in battle , but never held command for long, always losing stripes for fighting in brawls, or causing trouble in the inn’s, he had a temper, and a vile streak of cruelty which the officers kept in check by many visits to the punishment blocks. All Hastings could think of while completing the order was why would Captain Benton want such a man along side him when he ate?

Once Hastings had gone, and Porter was dismissed also, Captain Benton gave a sharp pull on Joanna’s chain as he turned and indicated harshly in that pull that she should follow, ensuring his own stride was a length infront of her, and rather too quick to make walking for her very difficult.

[Joanna Croft]

It felt like it was taking forever. The thorough scrutinizing of the cleaning of the captain’s trousers. Joanna though sat quietly and looked down at the ground. She was not dumb, well perhaps a bit to dress up as a slave and getting into this situation in the first place, but unlike most slaves, Joanna was well educated and knew more than most. In fact she had a pretty good idea what the Captain was doing and she expected that had it not been her then it would have been another slave who had fallen victim to this evil. Of course Joanna was still oblivious to the fact that the Captain knew exactly who she was and didn’t still think she was a mere rented slave by the name of Camille.

She was ripped out of her thoughts though as she heard a rattle that seemed so creepily recognizable even if she had never been in chains before. She looked up, not at the captain but at the soldier as he locked the chains around her ankles. Most of the other slaves had gone already and only she seemed to linger behind. Of course it was not out of her own free will, the chains were clear proof of that. Joanna was hardly able to resist it as the Captain’s strong arm pulled her towards him and she got the first sense of how tricky it would be to move around like this.

Joanna heard the orders barked out by the Captain but she neither commented or dared to look at him. She figured that if she gave him no excuse to hurt her, he would eventually find something better to do with his time. But this would certainly be a tough thing to do. The Captain seemed very much to be determined to make her fail and as he yanked the collar hard to make her move, a faint whimper of pain left Joanna’s lips. She did her very best to follow him and she knew that if she fell or couldn’t keep up it would be a lot worse than just walking like this. So she fought to keep up with the officer who by no means represented the military that she supported.

[Sir Edward Benton]

Once in the dining room, again he had to say he was impressed with Joanna, it had taken her a lot of will power, and effort to keep up with him, given the fast short steps she had to take , and she had to correct her balance and set herself right several times or fall at the Captains feet. She had managed to keep upright all the way till the dining room where the cool air after being outside showed up the sweat beads of concentration it had taken from her to do Benton’s’ bidding.

‘Take the girl’

Captain Benton gave the order to a private who was in uniform but not one in pristine condition, it was work pants and shirt, having come from punishment block he hadn’t been able to change or wash. The grime of working digging ditches for hours then polishing boots, showed in the stains on his clothes, arms, and the smell of sweat to his body, the shirt bearing salt marks that were yellowed by sour moisture.

‘Private Andrews, this is your charge for the night. She is to be branded tomorrow unless an owner comes forward overnight, but I hear she bares no mark, she holds no papers she has shown, she gives no name of an owner it is unlikely an owner will be forthcoming. I can only assume she is some runaway that has been hiring herself out in the market and has passed detection till now. You will ensure she does not leave the barracks while I am gone.’

Benton already knew that if Andrews had the chance with the girl alone at night he would rape the girl himself, and he likely had several friends that would enjoy her too, it gave Benton a frisson of erotic electricity through his body to think of the Admirals daughter being a plaything of the common soldiers for the night. His groin again sent a thud of warmth that he could not deny was pleasant.

Sitting himself at the finely set officers table after washing his hands in a bowl at the side of the room, he lifted the silver dome over his plate and admired the pink fish and mango and potato slices, a selection of cold salad vegetables on offer also. Sprinkling a little salt and pepper to the fish, he then lifted a side plate and cut precisely a third of the fish, and a variety of food from his own plate to the smaller one, then set it on the floor at his side.

‘She may eat….down there…if she so wishes’

Benton began to eat his own dinner, pouring himself a fine white wine cooled and delicious, all the time behaving as if he wasn’t aware of what Joanna was doing, or the look on Andrews face as he considered the fun to be had that night, and he pulled Joanna to him a little then grinned such a grin that showed his malevolent thoughts then pushed her to the ground by the plate.

‘You heard the Captain. You eat the food down there on the floor!’

A much rougher voice, tainted with a Yorkshire accent, his background was working class from the moors of Yorkshire in England before he had been sent down on a charge to prison and then choosing Kings’ service rather than penal servitude, often he wondered that he had made the wrong choice, but not right now, right now he had definitely chosen right with this little beauty to play with all night.

Benton watched Private Andrews face in subtle side glances, and saw his pants straining with an erection, the looser fit of the privates work breeches did little to hide the shape, the sight of the hardness actually created another erotic slam of heat and pulse of blood to his own manhood, but the severe cut of his own pants made it so it was restrained and controlled giving more pleasure for being unable to be freed.

The whole thing quite delicious.

‘After I have finished my meal Andrews, I will ask you to strip the girl. We have rather an unpleasant task to complete but I am sure you will be up to the work. I will need to check for myself she has no marks of ownership I would not want to brand someone else’s property, you will ensure she is held securely, it will an intimate examination, I have heard of the most private places marked so as not to damage the skin of the prettier girls. Places such as Inside the vagina, the anus, under the breasts, Are you up to the duty man?’

Benton’s own groin was now on fire, a delicious feeling creeping through his testicles as he thought of the inspection to follow. Clearly the Private thought it would be rather fun too, as he almost moaned out his ‘ Yes Sir’ with such glee on his face, and a rather sharp pull on the chain at Joanna’s neck to make her look up at him.

‘Good’

Benton allowed himself a smile before swapping his plate with that of a dish of perfectly ripe grapes, candied with sugar, with fresh mint and cream sorbet at its side.

‘Quite delicious’

Amusing himself was wonderful, he was enjoying wondering how long would Joanna hold out before she had to admit the truth of who she was and stop this façade, actually naming such female crude parts out loud and informing Joanna of what was about to happen was turning the Captain on rather too, the very idea of mentioning such ‘unmentionables to a Admirals daughter was rather a tease he liked.

[Joanna Croft]

Joanna was trembling as she heard the words: take the girl. She had seen the soldier waiting in the room as she entered it and while she probably couldn’t be picky while dressed up like a slave, this guy certainly didn’t seem like a nice type. And when the Captain further explained what he had in mind, the evil became even clear. It seemed that Captain Benton was a man who enjoyed power and even more he seemed to enjoy the misery in others. But as a noble man he obviously couldn’t be like that so now he simply carried out harsh punishment in the presence of others or as now, gave an order that he knew would result in rape, while he could deny it all later and perhaps even punish the soldier if he was really mean. Joanna sent the soldier a quick glance and then looked back down, carefully holding onto the fabric of her rags as she thought of something, anything really, to say.

As she was shoved to the floor she looked at the bowl for a moment. She wasn’t really hungry. Well maybe she was, but between the fear and the pain, hunger wasn’t exactly on the top of her list of things to feel at that moment. Luckily though there was soon more to be said. Or at least heard from her point of view. The captain started to elaborate how he was going to examine her for any branding he might have missed earlier on and without giving it much thought, Joanna had closed her hands around the edges of the dress to keep it in place. Of course she knew that it wouldn’t help much, but right now it was better than nothing. Just as the Captain finished his words, the solder pulled the chain that was wrapped around Joanna’s neck causing her to gasp in pain. Now her eyes met with the Captain’s While she remained silent her eyes definitely betrayed her and showed him just how much she disliked him.

[Sir Edward Benton]

Oh such fire in those dark eyes….was there a fire in her belly too?
Or was she like his wife, submissive and compliant to the point of boredom in bed. Willing to put up with the more physical aspects of married life only through her idea of duty and to bear her husband children.

In truth his wife bored him in bed too, she lay there with a look that seemed to wish it over, smiling in her polite loving way to please him, yet Captain Benton felt there was not a second of their love making she enjoyed, and his part in it was now perfunctory too.

But Joanne……The Admirals daughter, she had such fire in her eyes, and when he saw her tremble, and those sweet tears... he would love to see her at her height of ecstasy, what noises would she make, what sounds of pleasure.... but such things were not possible to be heard or seen if he took her in a rape, and having her bound while he raped her was not what he wanted.

Joanna stared at him with such hatred, if she had of been a slave, or a lower ranking soldier, he would have slapped that face or whipped them, such impudence, but with a wry smile on his face he let her have her show of emotion , it amused him much as the rest of the day had.

In truth he was amazed she had still not ‘ admitted’ who she was, she had just heard a most gory discussion of what was to happen,she had seen who she would lay with, and heard she had ahead of her a night with common soldiers that would have no hesitation in using her as a common whore, and raping her, yet the girl still stayed quiet.?

Why would she?
Could she really be willing to allow herself to be used in such a way, to be examined, and then to be branded?

Captain’s Benton’s own beady dark eyes tried to find the answers within that glare she gave him, holding the gaze, daring her to continue it.

Well if he had not managed to break her yet then so be it.

His hand rose swiftly then, and slapped her across the face hard, leaving a line of four fingers in red welts across her cheek, before turning back to his meal and finishing several more forkful’s of food, and dotted his lips with the serviette and sampled more wine.

Then he turned to her again and looked to see if she would still continue to lift her head and stare, if she did, she would receive the same thing again, and again, and again till she dropped her eyes .

Only then would he continue with this.
‘ Andrews! Your foot on the neck chain if you will!’

Private Andrews obeyed immediately, dropping the neck chain, and putting his booted foot on the chain, before walking down the chain, and in doing so brought Joanne’s head to the ground, fixed by his foot.

‘Remove that obscenity, it smells rank’

Indicating the rags that Joanna wore, Andrews immediately obliged, grabbing the material at the neck line, and ripping it down the back and apart, the sound of the material seemed to fill the fancy dining hall.
All the while Benton watched not only Joanna’s reaction, but that of Andrews, seeing the hunger in the man’s eyes, and the erection in his pants, gave Benton another pulse of heated blood that made the desert quite complete.
He pushed Joanna one way and another, to rip it off her arms, and then tear it from her grasp, casting it behind him.

‘Begin the examination’

When Andrews bent to force Joanna’s legs open harshly and quickly, Benton spoke again, having already seen a flash and peek at Joanna’s most private areas in that second.

‘Slowly Andrews. We have all evening; it is not as if the hall is to be visited tonight by dignitaries, such as the height of Kingston society or the Generals and Admirals of the crown.’

Such a quiver of excitement ran down his spine at mentioning Joanna’s social crowd and her father while seeing her naked and exposed.

[Joanna Croft]

Joanna had long ago decided not to give up. Hell would freeze over before she let that creep of an Army Officer win. He had hurt her in almost every way possible by now. From working her to the point of heat exhaustion to hitting her and even threatening her indirectly with rape, he had proven that he enjoyed power and that he had no respect for slaves. So far Joanna felt sure that she had met no one other than the devil himself. However there was still one thing that Joanna hadn’t expected. She had never expected him to recognize her. After all who would expect a noblewoman to be dressing up, or rather, dressing down to that of a slave and working hard for poor food and bad rest?

The slap came expectedly and while it hurt, Joanna refused to give the Captain as much as a cry of pain. However when he slapped her again she could hold it back. This time she kept her eyes at the floor. She knew that the Captain had more power in that moment and she saw no reason to test it. It was at that moment that she felt the chains tightening making her head touch the floor. Then a moment later the rags she wore was ripped from her body. Joanna attempted to hold on but failed and now found herself completely naked on the floor. Now the tears really started to flow.

Even if she did her best to resist, her strength couldn’t prevent the soldier from moving her around as he pleased and he seemed to be more than happy to expose her most intimate places. Even when the Captain told him to slow down, Joanna knew that this would be the next punishment. From hard work in the sun to beatings, now it was time for humiliation. Desperately Joanna tried to close her legs and cover herself. Because while she had learned to feel fairly comfortable in the little sackdress that she wore as a slave, nudity was not something she enjoyed. Perhaps she had to tell him who she really was. Perhaps it was time to give up.

[Sir Edward Benton]

‘Not a single mark. As I thought… You can let her go Andrews’

Andrews let go of the girl, but stepped back and kept his booted foot on the end of the chain, watching as Benton finished another sip of wine, damn and blast officers and gentlemen were weird, the man looked totally unaffected by this, yet his own body was buckling with lust.

'' So let us review this. No one claims you. You have no mark. You give no plantation name. No owners name. That leaves only one logical explanation. You are a runaway, working as a market slave and keeping your own wage. Illegal on several grounds and Unacceptable. My choices are few, Brand you as Government property and use you on the Fort. Brand you and send to the Gaol, or Brand you and sell you on.’

Such a refined voice, so calm and cold, no one listening outside the door would think he had just undertaken the complete humiliation of a Lady, exposing her fully to the eye of both himself and another man.

‘Unless I hear anything to the contrary, you will be branded tomorrow at 8 am. You may speak for your defense now if I am mistaken in anyway, or I will give the order for Private Andrews to take you away and keep you under guard till tomorrow at dawn, when the hot brand will mark you for life with the mark of a slave on your thigh, and arm for all to see. Is there any reason why I should not do this girl?‘

Sitting back in his chair he wondered if she would allow this to happen. No way could she marry then, what possible explanation could she give a husband for her markings, nor could she dance at the summer dances with her arms uncovered, she would have to hide her body from her maids even in her bathing….

But if this is the life she had chosen then so be it. It was her last chance.

[Joanna Croft]

Silence covered the room during the humiliating examination. Only the occasional exchange of words between the captain and the soldier or the sound of wine being poured or a knife cutting through meat and scraping against the underlying plate. Unlike before when Joanna had given the Captain a hateful look, she kept her eyes on the floor now. How not so much out of obedience as out of timidity and because she felt too humiliated to look anyone in the eyes right now. But she had long ago given up on resisting. She knew that the soldier was a lot stronger than her and it was better to just let him move her around as he saw fit. No matter how much of Joanna’s pride it would cost. If she even had any left.

Then the Captain started to summarize the situation and Joanna tried to the best of her ability to cover herself with her hands. And while she listened and understood every words that left the Devil Captain’s mouth, she didn’t say anything. For this there were several reasons. One being that the Captain had made it painfully clear to her that she shouldn’t speak unless spoken to and since he hadn’t formulated anything as a question, Joanna figured that it might be a trap to punish her further. Another reason for her silence was that while she was no runaway slave and certainly no owned property, she couldn’t really give much explanation as to who she was and why she was there.

Of course had Joanna known that the Captain knew exactly who she was, she probably would have acted in a very different way. Because she was still a noblewoman and knew how to command people about. But her nerves were already shaky and even if she tried now she would by no means be able to seem even the slightest strong. So when she heard of Captain Benton’s plan she looked up at him with fear in her eyes. While she had endured much pain in her masquerades as a slave, she had never even dared to think how painful it was to be branded. “Captain please… I am not who you think” She said and took a deep breath. “My name is Joanna Croft… I am no slave…” She paused for a moment. “May I please have something to cover myself with?”

[Sir Edward Benton]

And there it was!
Edwards would have stamped his booted foot and slapped his hands in congratulations of a job well done and a contest won had he been with his fellow officers at some evening game, but of course this was not the moment for such displays.

However Captain Benton did take great delight and satisfaction by spending a minute looking at the Naked, tear strained dirty body of the girl on the ground, her hair a mess, her face smeared with dirt and tear lines , wide fearful eyes looking at him, and a timid voice saying please, and asking him for something as simple as a cloth to cover herself with, while her hands did little to cover her, and after all he had seen the most intimate areas there was little point in the prideful shyness at all.

Now that was power.

An Admirals daughter, naked at his feet, reduced to the tone of voice suiting a broken slave girl, and behaving with timidity and respect for the man. No sign of strength or importance, or womanly commands, it was a perfect end to what had been the most unusual and pleasurable of days.

‘ Andrews….you can leave for now. I’ll have you sent for as soon as this foolishness of further lies is dealt with. Dismissed.’

He was sure the common soldier would not have put the name Croft with ‘ Admiral Croft’ after all the soldier had never dined with the Admiral nor knew his daughter, but he would not let the soldier see this final scene play out, he didn’t need this to be common knowledge, not if his ‘ plans’ were to come to fruition.

Andrews clearly had no wish to leave. One the girl needed beating for pretending to be anything other than a slave, and for actually asking for clothing,and he would gladly beat her, or better yet watch the Captain beat her, but also it was rather hard for Andrews to walk out, or stand to attention for dismissal when his groins were alight with heat and solid from excitement!

‘Yes Sir’

The reply was harshly given but Benton didn’t delay him in pointing out it could have been delieverd better, wanting the man gone now.
The moment it was just Benton and Joanna in the room , Captain Benton rose, and turned his chair a little more to face Joanna, before sitting again. Pointedly not giving her anything as yet to cover herself with.

[/b]‘So now you claim not to be a slave? Despite working as a slave all day? Arriving here with the slaves on the slave cart, from a merchant who pays you as a slave? And having been given amble opportunity in the beginning to state this claim.’

Laying it simply out to her, the ridiculousness of her behaviour plain when said in such terms.

‘ And now you say you are not only NOT a slave, but you name yourself Croft? I suppose next you will say you are related to our own Admiral Croft? Admiral of the English Navy, a fine upstanding man, proud, strong, a true English Gentleman. Do you think I would believe such a Gentleman would have a relative that could be quite so low and so base as to display herself in such a way? To behave in such a way? ‘

There was a scornful tone in the way he asked her what he knew to be true, clearly waiting to have this behaviour from such a Lady explained.

‘I have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Joanna Croft, a fine Lady, of high standing. She would know it would be not only social suicide for herself to act in such a way, but also it would be her fathers social and career suicide should such a ridiculous lie be true.’

That cold smile rested on his lips again, his dark eyes like black lead shots from the pistols.

[Joanna Croft]

When her request for something to cover herself with was ignored, Joanna realized that while she had finally given in and dropped her mask, she was far from safe yet. The ordeal was not yet over and her name and noble blood alone wasn’t enough to persuade Captain Benton to change his attitude. His word were harsh and while the meaning of the words were disbelief and lecturing, there was a subtle underlying tone of wickedness. While he still denied accepting her name as true, Joanna had a cold feeling in the back of her mind that the Captain knew quite well who she was. And for how long?

Of course the Captain had some points in his accusations but Joanna wasn’t going to let him use her father’s name to promote his own evil purpose. And when Captain Benton stated that she, Joanna, had been the one who had exposed herself, there was fire in her eyes. “I am not the one who ripped my dress apart! I am not the one who see more than I should!” She said in a hard tone. “Before you accuse me of exposing myself you should take a look at these chains! What could I do against your humiliating examinations when you have me held down?!”

Joanna realized that the Captain was still playing his game and despite of the fact that she tried to cover herself, she knew that it was futile. The man had already seen everything so instead of trying to hide herself, Joanna took her hair in one hand and held it up so it matched better her look on a regular day in her home. “Now do you see who I am?” She asked and looked up. The Captain had already moved on and this time his mentioning of her father made Joanna fear what the officer would do. “I know this may seem odd to you that I am here like this… But I beg you to keep it to yourself… My reasons are my own and I can not explain them in words that would make any sense to you… I have seen that today in the way you treat those you command… But please leave my father out of this… He has no knowledge of it… I will do anything for your silence.”

[Sir Edward Benton]

What could she do against such humiliating examinations?... You could have announced who you were at any time to bring it to a halt.
What could she do to stop herself being exposed?... You could have not appeared in the garb of a slave, nor set yourself up as a slave to be used.

These responses he held in his head, but the slight twinkle in those cold dark eyes showed he was in no way feeling guilty over her treatment, nor was he cowed by her mention of how he treats those under his command.

If you set yourself up as the ‘ lowest of the low’ then it is hardly surprising you are treated as such.

Looking at her with her fine hand held above her head, holding her hair up, so the delights of her fine neckline was on show, un adorned by any necklace unlike the nights he had seen her at dinners. It was almost more erotic to see her pose like this, naked and pleading, the slight tremble in her voice, and a touch of fear still in her eyes, yet more clearly in the guise of who she was.

The tone however as she spat out the accusations was more fitting to the Admiral’s daughter, a woman used to issuing orders and having household orders followed, and for others of lower standing to attend her every need, it diminished the fire in her voice to hear her try for such command while naked and chained, but it also made her less enchanting,Benton hating how she attempted to take charge of the situation, as if she had a right or command over him NOW.

But please leave my father out of this… He has no knowledge of it… I will do anything for your silence.”

His eyebrow rose at this statement, such pleasure to hear such a promise. Benton raised his hands and crossed his fingers, touching them to his lips and stared at her, considering her and her words.

‘You do have a likeness of her when you dress your hair like that, but it is your desperation that convinces me that you are indeed Miss Croft. For you are right, your father would be devastated at such knowledge, as he should be, and you are right to be concerned of the damage should he find out what you did.’

Laying the guilt in the words of his reply, reminding her none too subtly of the shame that would be involved in such actions if they were to become common knowledge.

Looking around the room he saw the Chiffonier set to the side of the room, in the drawers and cupboard was kept the fabric covers for the grand table, different colours for different occasions.
‘Lift your chin. Miss Croft.’ A frisson of excitement in using her name, while she was still naked made his groin warm again.

Waiting for her to do as requested, she had after all just promised to do anything, he was hardly asking for the world right now. When she lifted her chin he leant down and undid the neck collar, placing it on the table, before pointing out chiffonier on the other side of the room.

‘You will find something in there to wrap around yourself, then I will call in one of the soldiers to fetch you something more appropriate for you to wear to leave the fort in. Once we are concluded with our business.

So it seemed her nightmare may well be over, except Benton didn’t leave his seat, nor stop watching her, nor had he said what she would have to do to gain his silence.

[Joanna Croft]

Silence! As hard as it would have been for Joanna to believe a moment ago, the silence that the Captain gave her was even worse than his cruel words. She dared not to look at him for even though she had finally told him her name and attempted to show him herself as he would probably have seen her, she knew that as long as there was any doubt in his mind, she would be treated as a slave. But then they came, his words and they were surprising. They were light and while certainly they still put weight on the negative, they were almost kind. At least compared to what she had endured all day. Joanna gave a quick breath of relieve and released her grip in her hair.

She looked up. The Captain had allowed it and even used her name. Gratefully she nodded and offered him a smile. It was hard and not at all very genuine, but at least she wanted him to know that she appreciated that now where he recognized her, she was happy that he had found a little kindness in his heart. Of course, she didn’t know that it was not kindness but merely the next step in his evil plan. As the chains are removed, Joanna feels the first real relief and the first genuine hope that this is finally over. She follows his gaze to the small chiffonnier at the wall. Slowly she got to her feet and approached it without a word. She opened it and found something there to wrap around her body. As she had covered herself she turned and looked at the Captain. “Thank you Captain” She said. A part of her thought that there would be no price. That the Captain was chivalrous and would keep her secret because he was kind. Of course, Joanna should have known after a day like this, that the Captain wasn’t kind…

[Sir Edward Benton]

What a sight, the beautiful orbs of her perfect bottom cheeks held his gaze as she walked over to the chiffonier and bent and found a wrap of cloth that usually decorated the table, and wound it around her body. The slight redness from his slaps, and the line of a pink welt from his whip still showed on the pale flesh exciting him further. Not that covering her body would erase Bentons memories, her body was as fixed in his mind now that even with cloth, he still saw the slight lift of her breasts, the perfection of her female hair around her pubes, slender thighs, and such luminous fine soft skin. Never again would he see her as ‘ Miss Joanna Croft, Lady of high statues, an Admirals daughter and deserving of his respect, even fully clothed in refined attire he would remember her in that naked form.

‘Come here now.’
The expectation of her obedience rang in the tone, despite being softer now that he was not ' speaking ' to a slave, his voice was still colder than a Gentleman would ever speak to a lady in, and more in line with a strict father about to rebuke a child.
He waited for her, the thanks and the smile were received well, but he wanted so much more, holding out his hand for her, it was clear he expected her to walk to him, stand by the side of the chair and give him her hand, which he would hold and cover with his other hand as if speaking to a child.

‘ We have much to discuss Joanna, as you say it is clear this can never be mentioned to your father, your behaviour is without reasonable explanation, and it would be the end of his career, and his life in Kingston, no one would welcome you or him again in there homes. So I need to hear from you how you think this is best managed? Think carefully how you answer, there is much depends on it.’

A twinkle in his eye should warn her she was not passed the ordeal yet, nor safe, as far as any knew, she was a slave, and her disappearance as such would be of no concern, she was about to learn that even as a ‘Lady’ she would have to be watchful of her tone with him, for he would correct her in the same way as the slave if she tried to gain control back from him. He was a man that liked deference, subordination, and now her fancy title would not save her from giving him his due.
Even the fact he referred to her as Joanna now rather than Miss Croft which he had until this day was a clear example of how things had changed.

[Joanna Croft]

In Joanna’s mind there was nothing she’d rather do that go home and rest after this exhausting day. Get home and forget about the day completely, however she knew she wouldn’t. She would probably not be able to look at a Red Coat ever again without remembering this day. Once she had wrapped herself in what seemed to be a tablecloth, Joanna was called over by the Captain. While his voice had changed much since she had identified herself, there was still a tone of control and demand in it. Without a word Joanna did as instructed and walked to the man who despite of her noble title held a great deal of power over her.

It was with a heavy heart that Joanna listened to the Captain’s words. She knew that she had brought this upon herself in a way. She knew every time she walked out her door wearing the rags of a slave she could potentially end up in situations where she didn’t want to be. Today had been such a day but where she was more than willing to take a beating or suffer a rape, she had no interest in having her father involved. Not ever. She looked down for a moment. Took a deep breath and then looked back at him. “While the situation is very complicated, Captain” She started quietly. “It is fortunately only your silence I ask of you… No… beg of you” Joanna placed herself on her knees as she said the last part. For she knew the Captain’s power and how he seemed to enjoy having it. “So Captain I can not tell you how we deal with this… Because right now my life and my family’s honour lie spread out under your feet… And I can only hope that you will tread softly…” She looked up at him and repeated a previous statement. “Captain… Whatever I can offer you I will give you”

[Sir Edward Benton]

The push of air from his nose although silent held a sneer and a feeling of victory far outweighing any other throughout the day, his eyes focussed solely on her, here was the upper class Lady Joanna on her knees willingly to him, no chains, no force, the woman had put herself there as she should in his high opinion!

‘There will be a time when I will call on you and expect that offer to be filled without question’

Standing and moving away a foot from her, before moving to look out of the window at the fort now it was evening, taking time to check the men he could see, and watch the fort life that went on un-be knowing of the drama that played out in the Hall. Playing the time out, he already knew what he would do with Joanna, but it wouldn’t do the girl any harm to worry for longer, and await her fate.
Turning to rest his back finally on the curtained wall, he stared again at her still on her knees at his chair before walking back and holding out his hand for her to stand.
When she did, and he held her hand still, there bodies far closer than they would be allowed in there social class on introductions, he lifted her chin, and seemed like he might kiss those lips.

‘Remember this. What ever I ask of you , you will comply without hesitation. I do not want to have to remind you of how many soldiers have seen your disgrace today, nor how I could brand you even now as no one knows of you as anything other than what you allowed yourself to be, a slave. Never force my hand Miss Croft. ‘

His right hand moved from cupping her chin to his hip, but rather than taking his whip, he withdrew the short knife from it’s sheath. Without waiting to explain, nor for her to object, he held her dark hair in one hand and sliced a large lock of the hair , enough that she would have to take extra care over her hair for several weeks to cover the unevenness of length. Putting his knife away, he turned from her and reached beyond her, wrapping the hair in the serviette he had used to press to his lips with the wine, taking time to fold over the material to hide the dark clump of hair.

‘ I suggest since it is hardly fitting for Miss Croft to leave officially a fort she never arrived at, that you return to your home the same way you return other times in this guise. I do assume there has been other times?’

The gaze fell on her for the answer, which verbally or nonverbally he read as yes, before he shook his head, again showing his outward dislike of such a thing, playing with her, now that he was showing her he knew who she was.

‘You play with fire Miss Croft, and sometimes children that play with fire get themselves burned. You should remember that’

His coldness and arrogance still showed, rejecting Joanna’s obvious expectation that Captain Benton would take ‘ her’ as the offer she gave him for his silence, she could wait, he would enjoy thinking of her worrying of when he might call, or what he might demand.

‘I will call my adjutant; he will have you returned to the market place in something fitting.’

If Joanna thought that finally her day had come to a close, that through some miracle she wouldn’t be raped or endure more humiliation, then Captain Benton’s next action as they stood still unbearably close to each other, would correct her of that mistake.
Taking her fragile hand in his and drawing it downwards till it rested over the bulge and heat of his groin, his erection clearly able to be felt, held restrained behind his impeccably pressed pants, he made her fingers splay and press to the area, his eyes on hers always.

He was about to speak, explain somewhat his action and his demand, but instead chose silence while she was made to feel his manhood, and feel how it stirred for her, demeaning her status as an Admirals daughter who would have never had such an action demanded of her. Only when he was finished with the silent act of pressing her hand hard over his shape, and grinding forward, giving himself pleasure did he release her.
Turning from her after he smiled at her, a smile that could have promised or threatened a lot more to come.

‘ I have duties you have interfered with quite enough today Miss Croft, I’ll have the adjutant see you out’

With that smile of victory on his lips he moved aside of her, and with a flip of his hand indicated the door she should wait outside by, before he rang his dinner bell.

Within a few seconds the duty soldier knocked and entered, taking in the situation with a curiosity he would not speak of, the Captain sitting at the dining table and the slave girl now in the table cloth.

' Take her to my Adjutant, and tell him I wish her returned to the market place. And inform Private Andrews he will not be required to complete his assignment after all. '

As he watched her, he hoped she would feel fear still, worry and anticipation, perhaps also some disappointment that she had offered herself fully to him, such an embarrassingly humbling thing to do, and one he had turned down .

It filled him with more excitement to make her wait, for him to decide what and when he would take as ‘part payment’ for his part in her secret life.